This year, World Elephant Day is extra special - it's our last one with Putra Mas before he departs for Monarto Safari Park!. 

is an opportunity for Perth Zoo to raise awareness for the plight of elephants in the wild. But this year it’s extra special as Perth Zoo's last one with Putra Mas before he departs for his forever home at Monarto Safari Park.

Perth Zoo's Director of Life Sciences, John Lemon, said: "Putra Mas has been an incredible ambassador for his wild cousins and has helped inspire the WA community and our visitors to become interested in wildlife conservation. 

"He is also one of the most intelligent bulls I've worked with in my 30-year career. 
 
“It’s remarkable how quickly he is able to learn new things and complete challenges - his ability to pick up crate training is the perfect example of that.”
 
In April this year, Putra Mas came out of his annual hormonal musth period and recommenced his crate training program ahead of the trip across the Nullarbor.
 
As part of the training, keepers encourage him to walk into his custom-built crate to acclimatise to it, which will help him feel safe and secure for the journey.
 
With Putra Mas excelling in his crate training and the finishing touches being made to his bachelor barn in South Australia, the Perth Zoo team are preparing for a late-spring road trip across the Nullarbor.
 
“It’s a bittersweet time for us and the closing of a chapter, but we are very excited that soon Putra Mas will be joining the Monarto Safari Park herd,” John said.
 
“In the wild, male elephants are typically solitary and live close by to female groups so Putra Mas will be moving into his own area of the 14-hectare habitat, including his very own bachelor barn.
 
“He’ll have plenty of space to roam and explore and of waterholes to splash around in.”
 
When he arrives, Putra Mas will become the fifth member of the new Asian Elephant herd at Monarto Safari Park.
 
He will travel across the Nullarbor by road, with a team comprised of senior veterinarians and elephant carers monitoring him 24/7.
 
As one of the most isolated zoos in the world, Perth Zoo’s animal carers are experts in long-haul animal transportations,  and successfully transported female Asian Elephant Permai in January this year.
 
Monarto Safari Park’s elephant habitat is almost as big as the entirety of Perth Zoo and currently home to four females.
 
The expansive habitat is made up of four separate areas with plenty of vegetation, varied terrain, and waterholes to create an enriching environment.
 
Perth Zoo first announced its plan to rehome elephants Permai and Putra Mas in 2018.  This was to occur following the passing of Tricia, to ensure the pair would have a home that can accommodate a suitable social herd structure.